THE RACE OVER THE AIR

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 505, 7 November 1928, Page 12

THE RACE OVER THE AIR

A vivid and remarkably clear description of the race was given by radio, preceding which the field of seventeen—Textile. Bacchus, Sea Money, Ramulus and Kavalli were the late scratchings—was reviewed interestingly, and subsequently the contest and how the various candidates fared was discussed. There must have been a remarkable last-minute plunge on the three-year-old Strephon, for prior to the race Statesman was favourite, just ahead of Strephon, with Queensland’s hope, Canning Queen, next, and then followed in popular estimation the Caulfield Cup victor, Maple, and then Epilogue, Balmerino (winner of the Caulfield Guineas), Allecret, Winalot, Oatendale, Demost, Mondiaga, The Banker, Pica Pica, Aataman, The Happy Warrior, Alfred the Great, and Dion. But there was a change in the order when the actual starting prices were announced. Strephon wound up a hot favourite (at a little longer odds than Oratrix last Saturday at Riccarton), a full point ahead of Statesman. The third horse, Demost, was at a write-your-own-ticket price, extending into three figures. The race must have been nearly ten minutes late in starting, but there was not much delay once the horses arrived at the barrier. A strong wind was blowing down the straight right in the faces of the horses, so that in their two gallops up the home stretch the going was hard. They’re Off! Demost was in number one position with Canning Queen alongside, and then Balmerino and Oatendale. A fine start was effected, Strephon and Statesman actually being the first out. while the early leaders at the end of a furlong were Balmerino, Winalot, Dion and Statesman. When they began to settle down Balmerino was making play on to the course proper from Oatendale, Statesman, The Happy Warrior and Strephon. Passing the stands The Happy Warrior had pulled his way to the front from Dion and Balmerino, with a bunch following, and had eight lengths lead going out of the straight over Dion, Balmerino and Strephon, the last three being Statesman. The Banker and Canning Queen. At the nine furlongs the Ruder thus early began to come back to his field, two lengths behind him coming Dion’ who was but half a length in front of Strephon, with Balmerino. Epilogue, Oatendale and AVinalot following in close order. Strephon Hits the Front At the seven The Happy Warrior and Dion were in front of Strephon and

Epilogue, but passing the six Strephon took charge, and Balmerino followed him through, the leading pair now flying distress signals. Half a mile from home Balmerino held a slight lead over the favourite, with Oatendale, Alfred the Great, Winalot (under the whip at this point) and The Happy Warrior, with Statesman coming from the back. Into the straight Statesman was right on the quarters of Balmerino and Strephon. and when in line for home the latter was in charge. Then Statesman put in his claim and quickly settled the favourite” going on to win easily, but ridden out, by four lengths from Strephon. Demost finished well three lengths away in third place. with Balmerino fourth, and Canning Queen, Winalot, Epilogue, Oatendale, Alfred the Great and Allecret next to cross the line. The Banker, easing up. was last. Unlucky Balmerino Thoroughly exhausted by his hard race, Balmerino was faltering badly atfer the race hand almost colapsed. He recovered, however, and it was then seen that he had broken down. He had been bandaged on one leg, and this weakness was very apparent when he was got back to the paddock. Balmerino s breakdown was an unfortunate affair for his ex-New Zealand trainer, 13. Price. Statesman apparently won comfortably, and gave jockey J. Munro a still further run to his extraordinary winning sequence started at Kandwick. His riding fee alone amounted to nearly £SOO. Strephon had no chance with the winner, who was in the race at a stone under weight-for-age. His apprentice jockey probably took the three-year-old to the front too soon, no douL# to keep out 6f any trouble that was likely to be going. Nearly a Surprise Demost went a good race, finishing strongly under his 6.7. His rider R Medhurst, is a regular midget, and hails from South Australia. Maple was a disappointment, evidently finding her 101 b. Caulfield Cup penalty too much, and finished in the ruck. The topweights were set exceedingly difficult tasks, and could no* concede the weight. Canning Queen did not show up, and the three-year-old Oatendale ran a good race to the straight, when he petered out. The Happy Warrior tried to win all the way, but soon ran himself out. He is trained at Rand wick by R. O’Dojinell, up to eighteen months

ago a trainer at Trentham. Allecret was well back for the whole journey. Fulfilled Promise Prior to the Randwick meeting a few weeks ago Winalot was the Melbourne Cup favourite, but his defeat at weight-for-age by Bacchus caused him to go out of favour, and Statesman was elevated to the position of favourite. The good form of Strephon lately brought him into the market. When he returned from a trip cc* Sydney early last spring the wellknown Wanganui owner. Mr. G. M Currie, expressed the opinion that of the three-year-olds he had seen Statesman impressed as the one most likely to develop stamina. Then, when George Price was in Auckland a couple of months ago he told The Sun interviewer that Statesman would probably be one of the horses to trouble Limerick

in the weight-for-age contests. Statesman’s Melbourne Cup has shown both these sportsmen to be excellent judges. New'Zealand sportsmen can derive some satisfaction from the result, for Statesman was got by Demosthenes, who was at the stud in this country for a few seasons before being purchased and sent to Australia. PREVIOUS WINNERS THE MELBOURNE CUP—Two 'miles

Bryce’s Four Wins When apprentice jockey. S. Bryce steered Catapult first past the post in the Toka Toka Handicap at Avondale on Thursday, it was. the commencement of a successful run for him, for subsequently he landed winners In Carl Idem and Tidal; the last-named again on Saturday, thus giving Bryce four wins for the meeting. Next on the list were N. Syme, a double on Mangani, and PI. Beale, the winning rides on Royal Doulton and Vallar. Jockeys responsible for punching home a winner apiece were: A. Stead, Fernden; .K. Robinson. Lady’s Bov; PI. Lee, Big Bertha: R. McTavish. Te Monev; C. France. Awamutu; O. Mclnally, FlyJuliet; J. Conquest. Lomint: A. Tinker. Aussie: H. Goldfinch, Schorr (dead-heat) ; and E. A. Keesing. Golden Wedding (dead-heat). Winning Trainers Honours were well distributed in the trainers section of the Dargaville meeting at Avondale, for only three trainers led in more than one winner. They were: R. Hall (Papatoetoe), Catapult and- Carl Idem; W. Gough (Avondale), Tidal (twice); and C. L. Lowe (Gordonton), Mangani (twice). A dozen trainers led in a winner apiece, the following being a list of successful mentors: F. Stenning (Ellerslie), Fernden; H B. Cowan (Pukekorh), Big Bertha; W. Townsend (Pukekohe), Royal Doiilton; T. Carmont (Wanganui), Lady s Boy: J. Thorpe (Ellerslie), Lomint; F Gilchrist (Ellerslie L Te Money; J Williamson (Ellerslie), Vallar. F. E. Loomb (Te Awamutu), Awamutu: R. A. Edwards (Frankton), Flvmg Juliet: G'. Paul (Te Awamutu), Aussie; W Stone (Te Awamutu), Schorr (dead-heat), and W. M. Taylor (Ellerslie*, Golden Wedding (deadheat).

Year Winner Age Weight St. lb. / Time 1S61—Archer 5 1S62—Archer 6, 1S63—Banker 2 1864—Lantern 3.U 1865—Tory boy 7 1866 —The Barb 6 11 1S67—Tim Whlffler 8 1868—Glencoe 9 1869—Warrior 8 1870—Nimblefoot a 6 1871—The Pearl 1872—The Quack 7 10 1873—Don .Tuan 1874—Haricot 1875—Wollomai 7 8 3.38 1876—Briseis 6 4 1877—Chester 6 12 1878 —Calamia S 2 3.35| 1879—Darriwell . 7 1880—Grand Flaneur 6 10 1881—Zulu 5 10 1882—The Assyrian 7 13 3.40 1883—Martini-Henry 7 5 3.30i 1884—Malua 9 9 3.31J 1885 —Sheet Anchor a 7 11 3.291 .1886—Arsenal •7 5 3.31 1887 —Dunlop 8 3 3.2S 1888—Mentor 3 3.30 1889—Bravo 8 1890—Carbine 10 5 r,:2i 1891—Malvolio S 4 3.295 1892—Glenloth 7 13 3.36 J 1893—Tarcoola 8 4 3.30a 1894—Patron 9 3 3.31 1895—Auraria 3 •7 4 3.29 1896—Newhaven ' 7 13 1897 —Gaulus 7 8 3.31 J 1898—The Grafter 9 2 1899—Meriwee 7 6 1900—Clean Sweep 7 0 -.29* 1901—Revenue 7 10 3.30^ 1902—The Victory S 12 3.29 1903—Lord Cardigan 6 8 3.295 1904—Acrasia 7 6 1905—Blue Spec 8 0 1906 —Poseidon 7 6 3.317 1907—Apologue 7 9 3.277, 1908 —Lord Nolan 3 6 9 1909—Prince Foote 7 S 1910—Comedy King 7 11 1911—The Parisian 8 9 1912—Piastre 7 9 1913—Posinatus a 7 7 3.31 1914—Kingsburgh 0 12 3.26 1915—Patrobas 7 6 1916 —Sasanoff 6 12 1917—Westcourt • 8 5 3.261? 1918—Nightwatch 6 9 3.257 1919—Artilleryman 7 6 3.247 1920—Poitrel 10 0 3.255 1921—Sister Olive 6 9 3.272 1922—King Tngoda 7 1 2 28? 1923—Bitalli 7 0 1924—Back wood 8 2 3.267 1925—Windbag 9 2 3.223 1926—Spearfelt 9 3 3.222 1927 —Tri valve 7 6 3.24 1928—Statesman 8 0 8.23i